Hon Speaker, hon members, progress has been made in the education sector although challenges still remain in a number of provinces. We are doing well in promoting free basic education for all. Over 8 million children are now in no-fee schools. Our school nutrition programme feeds more than 8 million children in more than 20 000 schools, increasing their performance in class.
We have impressive figures with early childhood development. Grade R enrolment has increased from 300 000 to more than 700 000 between 2003 and 2011. We are therefore on track to meet our target of having 100% coverage for Grade R by 2014. Work is ongoing to eradicate mud schools, with R8,2 billion having been allocated to the programme.
The matric pass rate percentage is on an upward trend. The pass rate was 67,8% in 2010 and 70,2% in 2011. We are working on improving the quality of teaching maths and science as well as the teaching of literacy and numeracy. We are also working hard to improve literacy and numeracy in primary schools, given the fact that many of the learners who reach Grade 12 operate at literacy levels below Grade 12. In this regard, we instituted Annual National Assessment tests.
For the first time we are now able to objectively assess the health of the education system below Grade 12. The 2011 results confirmed that levels of literacy and numeracy are very low. For example, Grade 3 learner average scores are 28% and 35% for numeracy and literacy respectively. These are the figures that were apparently used by the World Economic Forum recently. We want schools to use the results to produce development plans. The factors that we are dealing with include school management, improving teacher training and increasing the levels of accountability in schools.
The schools must also have the tools of the trade such as workbooks and textbooks. The Department of Basic Education is working on improving the distribution logistics so that books arrive in schools on time next year to avoid the problems that arose in Limpopo and other provinces. As members are aware, the national government has intervened to deal with severe managerial challenges faced by the Limpopo and Eastern Cape education departments.
The interventions in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo are focused on a number of issues, including overexpenditure; failure to deal with excess teachers; financial and supply chain management; and the nondelivery of learning and teaching materials. I have received a report from the Presidential Task Team on the Limpopo challenge led by the Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr Nhlanhla Nene. I am considering the report and will indicate the way forward in due course. We are continuing to work with the Eastern Cape as well to improve the situation in that province. I thank you, hon Speaker. [Applause.]